(Note:
Earlier history via written documentation is not available.
Founding information and earlier history is from verbal
accountings from those that participated.)

Cameron,
Louisiana

The idea
for the Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival in Cameron was
originated in 1955 by the late Congressman T. A. Thompson
who represented the area.

On a
challenge from the Congressman in Cambridge, Maryland,
Representative Thompson sent fifty-two year old Leon Hebert,
a 25 year trapper, from Cameron to the National Outdoor Show
to compete in the National Fur Skinning Contest. Mr. Hebert
placed fifth in the nation that year. (Leon Hebert won the
Louisiana title at the first annual Fur and Wildlife
Festival on December 2-3, 1955 by skinning five muskrats in
53 3/5 seconds, nosing out John Broussard by five seconds.)

A small
group of people met during the summer of 1955 in the old
Police Jury meeting room in the Cameron Courthouse Building
(where the Sheriff's tax office is now located), to make
plans for the first festival. Whitney Stine was the chairman
of the meeting and enthusiastically endorsed having the
festival. Many community organizations were represented at
this meeting. Those attending included: Whitney Stine -
Cameron Lion's Club, Edward Swindell, Sr. - Cameron Lion's
Club, Hadley Fontenot - County Agent, Alvin Dyson - State
Representative, Ray Burleigh - Cameron Lion's Club, Joe
O'Donnell -Cameron Lion's Club, Mrs. Iva Free - Home
Demonstration Agent, Roberta Rogers - Home Demonstration
Club, Geneva Griffith - Home Demonstration Club (retired
from festival duties in January 2004, after 48 years of
volunteer service) and Sam Tarlton - Lake Charles Television
and Radio Station.

From this
grassroots group of organizers came one of the oldest, most
successful festivals, the Louisiana Fur & Wildlife Festival.

In spite
of the bitter cold weather in December of 1955, and
operating on a "shoestring" budget the festival was a huge
success. Funding was provided by the Cameron Parish Police
Jury and private donations.

J. B.
Jones, Jr. served as master of ceremonies for the program
which was the festival climax. The program was presided over
by Hadley Fontenot, Festival President 1955.
Miss Vida Bess Brown, a seventeen year old beauty from
Abbeville, was crowned "Miss Outdoor of Louisiana" by Ted
O'Neal, Chief of the Fur and Bottoms Division of the
Louisiana Wildlife Commission. She was presented with a
nutria stole, a bouquet of roses by the Cameron Service
Garage, and an expense paid trip to the National Outdoors
Show in Cambridge, Maryland.

The
Cambridge, Maryland National Outdoor Show became a "Sister
Festival" with the Cameron Festival and the two exchanged
fur skinners and festival queens each year. The tradition of
exchanging festival representatives continues to the present
time.

Miss
Meredith Giles (Montie) was named "Cameron Parish Queen" and
won the title from a field of 34 contestants. She was
crowned by Hadley Fontenot.

Ted
O'Neal told the audience (a Cameron Elementary full house)
that night, that "Nutria skins are saving what would have
been a vanishing fur industry for this area." He also
pointed out that in the previous year Cameron Parish
trappers netted $400,000.

Eleven
year old J. A. Miller captured the Louisiana Junior Duck
Calling contest that year. In years to come he grew to
become the World Champion Fur Skinner, following in the
footsteps of his father Fletcher, and teaching his daughter
Selika the art with her becoming the Women's Champion. His
wife, Mary Jane Miller, held the Local and National Women's
title many times.

The
second annual festival was held on January 11-12, 1957 and
$5000.00 in cash and trips were awarded along with fur coats
to the Fur Queen contestants.

Nancy
Precht (Nunez) was crowned Fur Queen by Louisiana
Representative Alvin Dyson. She represented the festival at
the Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, D.C. where she was
presented to Vice-President and Mrs. Nixon. This tradition
continues to the present time. Her crown bearer was Lurchell
Fontenot (Whittler) and her flower girl was Cheri Kay
Griffith (Giblin).
In a report by visiting news media that year it stated,
"Little in size, about 2500, Cameron likes to do things in a
big way -- Fur fashion, shows, parades, water carnival,
pirogue races, trap and trap shooting, duck calling,
skinning, a parade and Miss Fur Queen contest, and the town
was filled up, and estimated 7000 people."

The
annual Fur Festival Parade was always a high point of the
festival, always held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, starting
from the west end and traveling through town to the east, on
Highway La. 27-82. Each civic organization would spend days
and many hours planning and making the beautiful floats and
competing for the honor of winning in the various
categories. They were usually constructed in the warehouses
of the local menhaden plants, mud houses, garages, or
anywhere workers could get out of the cold. Roland "Bolo"
Trosclair was in charge of the parade at that time. A long
line of civic minded citizens were to follow him over the
years in charge of the parade including Deil LaLande, Roland
Trosclair, Jr., Hayes "Pete" Picou, Jr., Oscar Reyes, II and
Freddie Richard.

Fontonet
continued to serve the festival as President until he was
transferred from Cameron Parish in 1966. A concerted effort
was made to find someone to assume the leadership position.
J. B. Jones, Jr.agreed to take it with the condition that
each phase and contest of the festival be taken over by
various community members. Jones revamped the Board of
Directors, bringing in people from all over the parish to
help out and the festival grew even larger. He held the
Presidential post until he chose to give it up in 1980.
Braxton Blake was elected President. Mr. Blake held the
office until 1988. Hayes "Pete" Picou, Jr., was elected as
President, replacing Mr. Blake. Clifton Hebert was elected
President, replacing Mr. Picou after he retired from the
office. Mr. Hebert serves as President until the present.

Hadley
Fontenot, J.B. Jones, and Braxton Blake, serve as President
Emeritus for the festival.
A mascot for the festival was chosen. A contest of the area
school children determined the name. The raccoon (mascot)
was named Sha-oui and is a big hit for children each year.
The 39th festival chose Adrienne Picou as its 1995 Queen Fur
XXVI. She was presented a fur coat (donated by the La. Fur
and Alligator Council) by Joe Herring, Secretary of
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Hayes "Pete"Picou served as
President. Billy Doxey served as King Fur XXVI representing
the oyster industry. The 1995 Miss Cameron Parish was
Jennifer Leigh Broadus representing the festival at the
Outdoor Show in Cambridge, Maryland. The 1995 Little Miss
Cameron Parish was Courtney Conner and Little Mr. Cameron
Parish was Kaleb Trahan. Sarah Ann Vaughn was the Jr. Miss
Fur Queen. Representative Randy Roach interview Miss
Outdoors during the Saturday Night Program.

The 40th
festival was held January 11-13, 1996 and honored the
Mehaden Industry. It has had great impact on local and state
economics.

The 41st
La. Fur and Wildlife Festival honored the fur industry. A
king was chosen from this industry. Michelle Trosclair from
Grand Chenier served as the reigning Miss Cameron Parish and
Marie DesOmeaux from Abbeville is the 1996 La. Fur Queen.
The parade was at 12:00 noon and it started on the east end
of Cameron. Hayes "Pete" Picou served as President.
The 42nd annual festival honored the cattle industry. A king
was chosen from that industry. Hayes "Pete" Picou served as
President. There was a carnival on the fairgrounds, food
booths, dances, and outdoor events.

The 43rd
annual festival honored the oil industry. A king was chosen
from that industry. Hayes "Pete" Picou served as Past
President. After giving up his post, Mr. Picou was replaced
by Clifton Hebert as President. John LeBlanc replaced Eddie
Benoit as Director of the fair grounds. There was a carnival
on the fairgrounds, food booths, dances, and outdoor events.
The 44th annual festival honored the shrimp industry. A king
was chosen from that industry. Clifton Hebert served as
President. There was a carnival on the fairgrounds, food
booths, dances, and outdoor events.

*The 45th
annual festival, January 11-13, 2001, honored the rice
industry. Mervin (Possum) Chesson was chosen from the rice
industry and crowned king on Friday, January 12, 2001. Miss
Courtney Tatman of St. Charles Parish was also crowned Fur
Queen 2001. Shannon Surratt was crowned Miss Cameron 2001 on
Thursday 11, 2001. The Executive Officers include Clifton
Hebert, President; Freddie Richard, Vice-president; Sue
Mhire, Secretary; and Stephanie Rodrigue, Treasurer. In
addition to the Executive Officers, is a Board of Directors
that governs festival decisions. A group of over 200
community volunteers work to see that the festival is a
success. As is the past, a cookbook, featuring various local
recipes and information/pictures from last year's festival
will go on sale in January. Various pageants will choose
royalty to represent the festival for the upcoming year. A
carnival, parade, food booths, outdoor events, and dances
will complete the package. Saturday, January 6, 2001 began
the selection of festival royalty. Miss Deb Fur Queen is
Christian McCall, Miss Teen Fur Queen is Cassandra Trahan,
and Jr. Miss Fur Queen is Ashley Kelly.
*The 46th annual festival, January 10-12 2002 honored the
duck hunting industry. Enos "Buster" Sturlese was chosen and
crowned on Friday January 11, 2002. Shannon Hinton was
crowned Fur Queen 2002. Miss Marlyn LeJeune was crowned Miss
Cameron 2002 on Thursday January 10, 2002. The Executive
Officers include Clifton Hebert, President: Freddie Richard,
Vice President: Sue Mhire, Secretary; and Sandra Smith,
Treasurer. Saturday January 4, 2002 began the festival with
the crowning of Miss Deb Fur Queen, Erika Pickett; Miss Teen
Fur Queen, Dixie Desonier; and Jr. Miss Fur Queen, Tara
LeBlanc. On Thursday January 10, 2002, Kent Doxey was
crowned LiL Mr Cameron and Jenna Duddleston was crowned LiL
Miss Cameron.

*The 47th
annual festival was held on January 9-11 2003 and honored
the alligator industry. Charles Petifer was chosen and
crowned as King Fur on Friday January 10th. Tiffany Wing
from Calcasieu Parish was crowned La Fur Queen on Saturday
January 11th. Trista Semien was also crowned on Friday night
as Miss Cameron Parish 2003. Lil Miss Marlie Ellice Mudd,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lance Mudd of Grand Lake was
crowned on Thursday night along with Lil Mr. Madison Jade
Morales son of Mr. and Mrs. Chris Morales also of Grand
Lake.
*The 48th, and most exciting of all festivals held, was one
of nostalgia and advancement. The festival grounds were
filled to capacity as crowds of festival goers enjoyed food,
fun, and fur. The festival kicked off with the opening
Thursday night program which yielded our newly crowned Lil'
Mr. and Miss Cameron Parish, Tyler Nunez and Abby Miller,
both representing South Cameron Elementary School. This
year's King, Mr. Jimmy Stoutes, was selected as King Fur
2004 because of his unmatchable dedication to his lifelong
career as an oyster fisherman. Selected as Fur Queen 2004
was Miss Trista Semien, representing Cameron Parish. And,
Ashley Picou, a senior from Grand Lake High School, was
crowned Miss Cameron Parish 2004 during the Friday night
program. Mrs. Geneva Griffith was honored for years of
service to not only the festival but Cameron Parish and its
citizens.

*What
sportsman could resist a weekend of competition - Cameron
style? Trap shooting, retriever dog trials, duck and goose
calling, nutria and muskrat skinning, and oyster shucking
contests drew record numbers of participants and spectators
alike. As the 49th Annual Louisiana Fur and Wildlife
Festival kicked off on Thursday, January 6th, outdoor
competitions were not the only thoughts lingering with
festival goers. The festival has always been known for its
lavish pageants. Royalty crowned during this year's festival
were:

*The 2006
celebration of the Fur and Wildlife Festival was cancelled
due to the devastation of Hurricane Rita.

*The 50th
annual Fur and Wildlife Festival had the feeling of an old
time family reunion. It was held in Cameron on January 13th,
2007. After the devastation of Hurricane Rita, it was
wonderful to gather in Cameron and celebrate the Fur
Festival again. Participants enjoyed many of the same
activities that had brought them out to the fair ground in
past years. The newly crowned royalty reigned over the
festival in grand style. The year’s festival representatives
were: